Rotary transfer molding device



Juy 12, 1949. F. G. PURINTON ROTARY TRANSFER MOLDING DEVICE '7'Sheets-Sheet l -,l. 'Il .l IUI# Filed NOV. 21, 1946 July 12, 1 949. F.G. PURINTON l ROTARY TRANSFER MOLDING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.21 194e Ab NQ July l2, 1949. F. G. PURINTON ROTARY TRANSFER MOLDINGDEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 21, 194.6

www MSN July 12, 1949. F. G. PURINTON 2,475,219

I 'ROTARY TRANSFER MQLDING DEVICE* Filed Nov. 21, 1946' 7 Sheets-Sheet 43/ 188 ummllllm i j 5 f/ iL.

July 12, 1949. F. G. PURINTON 2,476,219

ROTARY TRANSFER MOLDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2l, 1946 A 7 Sheets-Sheet 5July 12, 1949.

ROTARY TRANSFER MOLDING DEVICE Filed NOV. 21, 1946 F. G. PURINTON j2,476,219

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 July 12, 1949. F, G PURINTON 2,476,219

RO'IRY TRANSFER MOLDINGr` DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Zl 13e 7g4 200 3 f 38 l l 172 Patented July 12, 1949 Forrest G. Purinton,Waterbury,

to The Patent Button Company,

Cermassigner Waterbury,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 21, 1946,Serial No. 711,276

25 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to molding machines and moreespecially to an improved molding machine for molding buttons fromplastic materials such as, for example, thermosetting and thermoplasticresins, the improved machine being of the radial type for sequentialoperation and completely automatic.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved radial-type machinefor molding resinous articles.

A further object is to provide an improved radial-type transfer moldingmachine which is substantially fully automatic and adapted to moldarticles of thermosetting resin.

A further object is to provide an improved automatic transfer moldingmachine capable of sequentially molding a multiplicity of articles of athermosetting resin at a relatively-high rate of speed.

A still further object is to provide an automatic plunger-type transfermolding machine wherein the molds are mounted on the periphery of arotatable carrier and sequentially indexed oppo site a mold-chargingdevice, the latter being mounted in xed relation to the rotatablecarrier and adapted to move radially with respect thereto, to charge themolds. v

A still further object is to provide an automatic plunger-type transfermolding machine wherein the molds are closed and held underexceedinglyhigh compression pressure While being charged and oncompletion of the mold-charging operation are immediately relieved ofthe high-compression pressure, the pressure used to hold the moldsclosed during the charging operation acting independently of thepressure used to charge the molds.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a machine i-naccordance with the foregoing objects Wherein mold-locking means vareprovided which automatically lock and unlock each pair of mold-units ofthe respective molds as the latter are sequentially indexed through thesuccessive operation stations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine inaccordance with the foregoing objects wherein the molds areautomatically opened in sequence and a molded article ejected therefrom,suitable means being actuated to clean the mold-cavities prior toclosing and locking the molds.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a machine inAac-cordance with lthe fore.- going objects Whereinth molding-pins ofthe molds are arranged -to be sequentially thrust into .55

the moldfcavities intermediate the moldfcharging station andejection-station.

With the above and other Objects in View, as Will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the present disclosure. this invention includesall features in the' said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which c ertain modes of carrying outthe present invention are shown for illustra-tive purposes:

Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the improved trans- .fer-moldng ,machineof this invention Showing the rotor and drivefmcshanism therefor. thedrive-mechanism at the left-'hand end of the machine beine partly brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine shown.

in Fig. l; Y Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged .Sze elevation in section of the. rotor ,includingthemen-units and .moldunit Gharsinsmeans Online 3-.3 of Fis- 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the machine on line 4 4 of Fig. lshowing the cooperative relationship of the recpreeable'mold-unit@harging-means the mold-unit compressingmember; v

Fie- .5 is a ssctieeeli plan View of a portion 0f the machine en, lie@515e@ Fis-,1, Showing the reanimatie Carriage-.Stingers ,for Opening themeldeueiis and actuating the molding-pins thereof:

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation partly in section on line 6 5 of Fig..y3 showing the inner face of the puter meldt si a meld. the irmjer facehelling JOITBOI-d'QdVQS fllnflte by .gates t0 a @minou @Qld-@.gilgpirfurse Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View of the outer meld-unit ofe ,1.1191121- 911 the diagonal Sectirial line l-'f of Fig. .6, thevmold-unitcompressingmeans and molding-pin operating-means being shown incooperative engagement'with the outer meld-,enit eed the medica-pinsrespe'ctivelr:

Fig. @lis an enlar d perspective vievv ofone of the inollfurtlocking-bars:

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of one of the lockingbolts adapted to beengaged-by a locking-bar for securing the respective mold-.unitstogether;

Fig. 1,0 is av broken end'lelevation partly in sectionof the right-'handveri-idf of the machine on line lillil o fFig. v3- showing the outerface of .the .une mold-unit aus sector-sation and the locking-means forlocking together .each pair vof moldjs;

Fig; il' iS .a broken ehdleleiaton partly in secof the machine on linetin 'cradles-ha fle-.u .or .ne a showing impide-cavities .of e@ innermold-unit at the mold-charging station and the locking-means for lockingtogether each pair of mold-units;

Fig. l2 is an enlarged broken sectional view taken on the line lZ-IZ ofFig. 2, the mold-unit being in its open position and including detailsof the air-supply means for cleaning the moldcavities;

Fig. 13 is an end elevation in the direction of the arrow I3 of Fig. l2showing the air-supply means;

Fig. 14 is a plan view in section ofthe air-supply means on line lll- I4of Fig. l2; and

Fig. l5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one arm of thereciprocable-carriage showing the cam-shoes for engaging and separatingthe outer mold-unit from its corresponding inner mold-unit at theejection-station.

General description The molding machine which has been chosen toillustrate an embodiment of the present invention is one which isparticularly adapted for forming molded articles oi a thermosettingplastic material, although a thermoplastic material may be used, by theso-called plunger molding process, that is to say, a unit-charge of thethermosetting plastic material is fed into a charge-holding bushing of amold and subsequently transferred in its entirety by means of amold-charging plunger into the mold-cavity of a mold to form one or moremolded articles. This is a refinement of the so-called transfer moldingprocess wherein a unit-charge is fed into the transfer-pot or -chamberof a loading-plate which is independent of but cooperatively associatedwith the mold; and is to be distinguished from the so-called injectionmolding technique in which a charge-holding chamber is provided capableof holding a quantity of plastic material sucient to supply severalsuccessive sets of molds before being emptied.

In general, the plunger-molding machine of this invention embodies amold-carrying rotor rotatable in a vertical `plane about a horizontalaxis, and carrying four molds on its periphery at 90 intervals eachcomprising a pair of moldunits, the inner mold-unit being fixed to theperiphery of the rotor and the outer mold-unit being movable outwardlyradially with respect t0 the inner mold-unit. Suitable guide-means areprovided, as hereinafter described, for guiding the movement of theouter mold-unit with respect to its corresponding inner mold-unit, theguide-means being also one element of suitable locking-means for lockingthe respective moldunits together. The outer mold-unit is provided witha charge-holding bushing or chamber, a molding-pin and an ejector, allof which have access to the mold-cavity of the outer mold-unit. Therotor is adapted to be rotated intermittently by a Geneva wheel topresent the successive pairs of mold-units sequentially to therespective stations of the molding machine. l

The station at which unit-charges are fed into the charge-holdingbushing of each successive pair of mold-units is directly above therotor. At an angle of substantially 90 to the feedingstation is themold-charging station at which the mold-charging means is located, thelatter comprising a reciprocable ram-like element or plunger adapted toenter the charge-holding bushing of the outer mold-unit to compress andtransfer the charge thereininto the mold-cavity of the mold. Associatedwith the mold-chargingl plunger is a mold-compressing member which isarranged to operate in conjunction with the mold-charging plunger tosubject each pair of mold-units to a pressure of substantially 40,000pounds immediately prior to the charging of the mold-cavity. When thecharge has been transferred into the mold-cavity, suitable means areprovided to actuate a molding-pin of each mold to project themolding-pin into the mold-cavity. As will be pointed out in detailhereinafter, as the mold-compressing member forces the mold-unitstogether under the aforesaid pressure, suitable means are provided forautomatically actuating the mold-locking means so as to take up anyslack between each pair of mold-units. Immediately following thecharging of each mold-cavity, the mold-compressing means is retracted torelieve the mold-units of the extremely-high compressing pressure.

The charged mold-units are then indexed through to a re-sizing station,at which station suitable elements may be operated to again engage andproject each molding-pin into its respective mold-cavity so as tore-size the aperture initially formed in the partially-cured `moldedarticle by the molding-pin.

Following the re-sizing operation, the charged mold is indexed through90 to the ejectionstation. The interval between the moldcharging stationand the ejection-station constitutes the curing cycle, at the end ofwhich the thermosetting plastic within the mold-cavity has setsuiciently to permit the molded article to be ejected from the mold. Atthe ejection-station, a reciprocable carriage-member is adapted toengage the outer mold-unit of the mold and move it outwardly radiallywith respect to the inner moldunit so as to open the mold. Concurrently,the ejector of the outer mold-unit is brought into engagement with arelatively-xed stop which actuates the ejector to eject the moldedarticle from the open mold. Suitable means is also provided fordirecting a blast of compressed air into the mold-cavity of the openmold to clean the cavity. Following ejection and cleaning, the mold isclosed and locked and indexed through 90 to position it beneath thefeeding-means for receiving another unit-charge, thus completing thecycle. The entire cycle consumes approximately sixteen seconds, aninterval of one second being allowed between each respective station andan interval of substantially three seconds being allowed at eachrespective station. As in other types of molding machines, therespective moldunits may be provided with suitable heatingmeans forheating the mold-cavities and the charge-holding bushing oi the molds.It may be desirable also to provide means for pre-heating theunit-charges prior to feeding them to the molds.

Frame-cmd-drive mechanism Referring now to the drawings for a morespeciiic description of the essential elements of the machine, the frameof the molding machine is indicated generally at 20 and comprises asubstantially-rectangular box-shaped structure consisting of spacedparallel side-plates 2l and endplates 22, the latter being secured tothe sideplates 2l by welded joints or equivalent fastening-means. Theside-plates 2| are made from relatively-thick stock, as indicated inFig. 2, to provide a rigid frame forl supporting the moldcarrying rotorand drive-mechanism of the molding machine. Suitable legs 23 comprisingangleiron stock are secured by boltsg24 or equivalent fastening-means tothe four corners of the frame, the upper ends of the legs extending tothe top edges of the sides and end-plates for greater rigidity.

Mounted on an adjustable bracket 25 on the underside of the frame 20adjacent the left-hand end thereof, as seen in Fig. 1, is a power sourcesuch as, for example, an -electric motor 26 which may be connected bymeans of a belt 21 to a pulley 28 of a gear-train comprising 'a pinion29, secured to a shaft 3G which is journaled at its opposite ends insuitable bearingsl 3| on the lower edges of the frame and atsubstantially right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof', the pinion29 being adapted to mesh with a gear-wheel 32'which is carried on ashaft 33; The latter'is journaled at its opposite ends in suitablebearings 34 secured to the lower edges of thefra'me'at opposite sid-esthereof respectively and vcarries a pinion 35 adapted to engage theteeth of afgear-Wheel 35, the teeth of the latter being adapted, inturn, to mesh with the teeth of a gear-wheel 31, the gearratio of thegear-wheels 36 and 31 being 1:1. The gear-wheel 31 is carriedy on atransverse-shaft 38 journaled at its opposite ends in bearing-blocks 39which are secured to the lower edges of the respective side-plates 2|and constitutes the drivewheel of a Genevastop-mechanism comprising awheel 40 having four longitudinally-slotted arms 3l arranged inright-angle relationship and connected by arcuate fillets 42. Toaccomplish the intermittent step-by-step rotation of the Geneva wheeldll, the gear-wheel 31 is provided on its outer face with a concentricring-shaped flange it of substantially 270 adapted to sequentiallyengage the fillets 112 of the Geneva stop in a wellknown manner fortemporarily locking the latter in xed position following rotation of theGeneva stop-Wheel 40 through successive arcs of 90, the intermittentrotation of theV Geneva stop-wheel All! being effected by means of aroller 44 rotatably mounted against the outer face of the wheel 31adjacent the periphery thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, and adapted tosuccessively engage in the slotted arms 4l of the Geneva stop-,wheel'45. Since lthe gear-train and Geneva stop-mechanism are conventional,amore detailed description of these elements may be omitted, it beingsufficient to state that the gear-'ratio of the above-describedgear-train is such that the Geneva stop-wheel 40 rotates intermittentlyat the rate of one complete revolution in substantially sixteen seconds.Although not shown, any well-known means may be provided' for elevatingand lowering the ad- Justable motor-bracket 25 so as to tighten orloosen the belt 21 on. the pulley 28. for changing the intermittentspeed of rotation of the Geneva stop-wheel.

The gear-wheel 3 andthe Geneva stop-wheel #lll are mounted on shafts.45'- and 46 respectively which extend transversely ofthe frame and arejournaled at their opDOsite. ends in suitable bearings mounted in theside-plates l21| of the frame, the shafts 65 and 45 being in.ahorizontal plane substantially parallel to. the horizontal plane of theframe and substantially midwaybetween the upper and lower edges ofitssides. Suitable collars are provided on ODDostefends of each shaft toprevent displacement thereof infthe direction of its` longitudinal aids.

As seen in Fig. 2, the opposite v`enclspf the shaft t5 extend outside ofthe. respective sdefplates 2| of the frame, the. gear-wheel ,33.1 being;secured to the one outer end thereof, and a hand-wheel 41 being securedto its opposite outer end, the hand-wheel 41 being provided for manuallyrotating the shaft 45. Between the side-'plates 2| of the frame andsecured in spaced parallel relationship to the shaft t5 are a pair ofcam-disks 48 each comprising a concentric lobe 49 of substantially 212and an anti-lobe 50 of substantially 148. The cam-disks 68 are adaptedto operate the mold-compressing means hereinafter described. Secured tothe shaft t5 between the cam-disks 48 is a third cam-disk 5| thecam-disk 5| having an eccentric lobe 52 adapted to actuate themold-charging plunger hereinafter described. To this end, a.connecting-rod 53v is provided having a lcam-strap 54 at its rear endadapted to rotatably embrace the eccentric lobe 52 of the cam-disk 5| ina well-known manner, so that as the shaft 45 and cam-disk. 5|' rotate,the connecting-rod 53 is reciprocated longitudinally in the frame of themachine. The eccentricity of the cam-lobe 52 is substantially 2%" forproviding a mold-charging stroke of the same length. As seen in Fig. 2,the connecting-rod member 53 is located substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the machine and comprises asubstantially-rectangular relatively-wide plate disposed on edge, i. e.,in a substantially-vertical plane, its forward end being reduced inwidth to form an Vattenuated neck-portion 55 which terminates at itsforward extremity in a transverse bearing 55. Ihe latter is adapted tobe received in a substantially-vertical slot 51 formed at the rear endof a reciprocable crosshead 58 of substantially-rectangular crosssection, the slot 51 intersecting the upper side and rear endsrespectively thereof. A suitable wrist-pin 59 is provided for securingthe bearing 55 of the connecting-rod in the slot 51 of the reciprocablecrosshead 58. Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, the forward end or face 65 ofthe reciprocable crosshead 58 is provided with a circular recess 6|concentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the block 58. Therecess 6| is adapted to accommodate the flanged head 52 of themold-charging means or plunger indicated at S3 and the flanged heads 54of four substantially-rigid pusher-pins indicated at 65, the latterbeing adapted to cooperatively engage the rear ends of the molding-pins,in the manner andv for the purpose hereinafter described. The heads 54of the pusher-pins are positioned in substantially-equally-spacedrelationshipabout the head 52 of the mold-charging plunger 63, the' headof which is at substantially the center of the recess 6I. The heads ofthe pusher-pins and charging-plunger are adapted to be held in therecess El in properly-spaced relationship by means of a retaining-plate56 which, as shown, is secured by countersunk bolts tothe face 60 of thereciprocable crosshead 58, the plate 6B being provided withsuitably-spaced guide-apertures 61 and 6B for accommodating and guidingthe shank-portions of the mold# charging plunger 63 and the pusher-rods65 respectively.

Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the crosshead 58 is carried by a ram 5Scomprising a substantially'- rectangular relatively-heavy block-memberwhich is substantially equal in width to the distance between the insidefaces of the sides 2| of the frame and is supported to reciprocatelongitudinally between the sides 2| by means of spaced parallel ways 13bolted or otherwise secured to thewinsidev faces ofthe side. 2|., theramhaving a substantially-rectangular aperture 19 therein which extendslongitudinally therethrough and intersects both the front face and rearface 12 thereof, the crosshead 58 being slidably mounted therein.

Extending transversely across the slotted rear end 12 of the ram 69 onopposite sides of the aperture 10 thereof, is a pair of semicylindricalrecesses 14 each of which is adapted to accommodate a trunnion 'i5substantially equal in length to the Width of its respective end-portion12of the ram 69. The respective trunnions l5 are adapted to be securedin their respective recesses 14 by means of fastening-means eachcomprising a bolt 'I6 extending from the front face of the crossheadrearwardly through a counterbored aperture l?, the rear end of each boltbeing threadedly engaged in an aperture of its respective trunnion '15.

Referring again to the connecting-rod 53, the latter is shown providedwith an elongated aperture 'I8 (see Fig. l) located adjacent the forwardend of the connecting-rod, the major axis of the elongated aperture 18being coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof. The elongatedaperture 18 is adapted to accommodate and provide clearance for a shaft'Z9 which is mounted transversely of the frame, its opposite ends beingjournaled in suitable bearing-apertures 80 of the side-plates 2|. Thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 79 lies in the horizontal plane of theshafts 45 and 45 and in parallel relation t0 the latter. Rotatablymounted on the shaft 19 between the walls 2| of the frame and in spacedparallel relationship, is a pair of rocker-arms indicated generally at8| spaced apart transversely and having cam-follower rolls 82 mounted attheir rearwardly-extending ends, the rollers 82 being rotatablysupportedon studs 837 each of which' extends laterally from and iseccentric to a cylindrical hub-member 84. The latter are rotatablymounted in split bearing-apertures 85 in the respective ends of therocker-arms, each hubmember 84 being adapted to be secured inpredetermined adjusted position in its split bearingaperture 85 by aclamping-screw 86 arranged to tighten the split bearing-aperture aroundthe hub-member 84. In accordance with this construction, the studs 8Sare adapted to be rotated so as to effect an adjustment of the rollers82 with respect to the lobes 49 of the cam-disks 48 Ilhe inner end ofeach rocker-arm is provided with a relatively-Wide hub 87 extendinglaterally from one side thereof and having an eccentric axial bore toreceive the corresponding end of the shaft I9 on which the hub is freeto rotate. The periphery of each hub 81 thus comprises an eccentricjournal 88 upon which is mounted a thrust-member 90, the lattercomprising a forwardly-extending arm provided at its forward end with asubstantially-sernicylindrioal recess 9| extending transversely acrossthe front face of the arm. The semicylindrical recess 9| of eachthrust-member 99 is adapted to cooperatively engage therearwardly-exposed substantially-semicylindrical surface of therespective trunnions l5 of the ram 69. Suitable means are provided forholding the cooperatively-engaging surfaces of the trunnions 75 andthrust-members 90 in continuous engagement and to this end a pair ofcoil-springs 92 are provided, the forward end of each spring 92 beingfastened to a post 93 projecting downwardly from the lower sidev of theram, the post-s 93 being on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis ofthe ram. The rear ends of the springs 92 are anchored .to posts 84 whichproject upwardly from a transversely-extending strut 95 of the frame, asshown in Fig. l. Referring again to the cam-follower rolls 82 of therocker-arms 8|, the former are adapted to be held in continuousengagement with the lobe 49 and anti-lobe 59 of .the cam-disks 48 bymeans of a pair of springs 88, each of which is secured at its rear endto a pin 91 projecting radially from the underside of its respectiverocker-arm 8|, the forward ends of the springs 96 being anchored to theaforementioned posts 94, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that when the shaft 45is rotated, the cam-disks 48 rotate and by continuous engagement of thecam-follower rollers 82 of the rocker-arms 8l with the cam-disks 88, therocker-arms 8| are oscillated about the shaft 19, the angulardisplacement of the rocker-arms being substantially 30. The oscillationof the rocker-arms 8| imparts oscillatory movement to the eccentricjournals 88 of the thrust-members 90, as a consequence of which thelatter are given a short reciprocating stroke longitudinally of theframe. The actual length -of the stroke of the thrustmembers 90 isrelatively small, being of the order of als. It will be noted that foreach revolution of the shaft 45, the thrust-members 98 are movedforwardly positively and held in their forward positions throughout adwell-period corresponding to the rotation of the shaft through an angleof substantially 270 and thereafter the thrustmembers are positivelyretracted for a dwell-period corresponding to the rotation of the shaftthrough an angle of 90. In the present embodiment, the duration inseconds of the forward dwell-period equals substantially three seconds,and that of the retracted dwell-period substantially one second, thespeed of rotation of the shaft 45 being substantially l5 R. P. M. Theforward thrust of the thrust-members 90 is positive, and due to theruggedness of the construction and the mechanical advantage gainedthrough the ratio of the length of the rocker-arms 8| to theeccentricity of the journals 88, which ratio is substantially 28/1, thethrust-members 90 are capable of exerting a pressure of substantially40,000 pounds, for the purpose hereinafter described. Secured to thefront face of the ram 69 is a mold-compressing shoe, indicated generallyat 98, comprising a substantially-solid rectangular block of metalsecured by bolts 99 to the front face of the ram. As shown in Fig. l,the shoe 98 has an arcuate face |00 comprising a cylindrical surface ofrevolution which conforms in curvature to the outer cylindrical surfaceof revolution of the outer mold-unit of each mold, as hereinafterdescribed. The mold-compressing shoe 98 is provided with an axialaperture IDI which is substantially circular in shape and symmetricalwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the ram. The aperture 18| isadapted to receive the moldcharging plunger 63 and the pusher-pins 65,the diameter of the aperture |il| being slightly greater than acylindrical surface of revolution defined by the outside dimensions Vofthe cluster of pusherpins 65. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the arcuateface |00 of the mold-compressing shoe 98 is provided with two spacedparallel grooves |02 which extend vertically from the top of the shoe tothe bottom thereof and constitute relief-recesses for accommodating therear ends of the molding-pins of the molds. Thus, in the event any oneof the molding-pins should inadvertently stick in its retracted oroutwardly-projecting position, then as the molding-pins were indexed tothe moldcharging station, the outer ends of the retracted molding-pinswould extend into the spaced parallel grooves |02 in the face of thecompressing- -shoe 08, thus precluding any damage to the moldling-pins.

Referring again to Figs. 3 and 5, the gear- Vwheel 31 is mounted at oneend of the shaft 33 which, as pointed out above, extend transversely 1ofthe frame and is journaled adjacent its opposite ends in suitablebearing-plates 39 depending from the lower edge of the frame, as shownin Fig. 4. Suitable collars |03 are secured to the shaft 38 in abuttingrelationship with the inner faces of the depending bearing-plates 39 toprevent lateral displacement of the shaft 38. The shaft 30 is adapted todrive suitable carriagemeans for opening and closing the molds and foractuating the molding-pins, as hereinafter described. To this end acam-disk |04 is secured to the shaft 38 at substantially the centerthereof and has an annular cam-surface |05 for engaging and actuatingthe carriage-means. Referring to Fig. 5, the carriage-means is indicatedgenerally at |06 and is mounted between the sides 2| of the frame in ahorizontal plane below the lower edges thereof and adjacent its forwardend. The carriage-means is fabricated of guiderods |01 secured in spacedparallel relationship by transverse tie-bars |08 and |09, the oppositeends of which are secured to the opposite ends respectively of theguide-rods |01. The latter are supported for reciprocable movement in asubstantially-horizontal plane by two pairs of brackets H0, each pairprojecting inwardly from opposite sides 2| of the frame and havingcylindrical apertures at their free ends to slidably receive therespective ends of the guide-rods |01. Referring to Fig. 3, supported onthe underside of the transverse tie-bar |00 of the carriage-means |06 bytwo spaced parallel anges depending therefrom is a cam-follower roller||2 rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 20 which is journaled at itsopposite ends in suitable bearingapertures of the depending anges l Thecamk follower roller ||2 is adapted to be held in continual engagementwith the cam-surface of the cam-disk |66 by means of the restrainingforce of a pair of coil-springs ||3, the forward lends of which aresecured to the transverse tiebar |08 of the carriage-means by suitablehooks 1| it. The rear ends of the springs ||3 are anchored by Similarhooks H4 to the xed transverse-strut 95 of the frame. As the cam-disk'|04 is rotated, the lobe of the cam-surface |05 engaging thecam-follower roller ||2 will force the carriage-means |06 forwardly inthe frame, i. e., to the right, as seen in Fig. 3, the carriage beingreturned to its normal position by the force of the tensioned springs||3 as the roller ||2 engages the anti-lobe portion of the cam-surface|05.

Each of the spaced parallel flanges I is provided with aforwardly-extending reach ||5 between which a roller ||5 is mounted on atransverse-shaft ||1. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, the roller ||6 isadapted to engage the underside of a hinged-plate IIB which issubstantially-rectangular and provided at its rear end with anupwardly-beveled ramp ||9 terminating in a fiat |20. The opposite end ofthe plate ||8 is hinged to the frame by a pair of forked arms I 2 l, theforward ends of which are pivotally secured in any suitable manner tothe fixed brackets H0 of the frame, the pivotal connections between thearms 21 and the fixed brackets l0 being inside of the spaced parallelguide-rods |01 of the carriage-means. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thereciprocable carriage-means |06 is in its forward position having beenmoved forwardly by engagement of the lobe of thecam-surface |05 with theroller H2 of the carriage. In its advanced position, the roller H0 ofthe carriage is adapted to engage the underside of the hinged-plate H6to positively force the latter up into a substantially-horizontalposition, for the purpose hereinafter described. As the carriage isdrawn rearwardly by the force'of the vsprings H3, as described above,the carriage-roller ||6 will be moved to the left, as seen in Figs. 1and 3, and withdrawn from the underside of the hingedplate H8 rst to aposition substantially opposite the beveled-ramp 9, as a consequence ofwhich the hinged-plate ||8 is allowed to swing downwardly, andthereafter to its rearmost position substantially opposite the flat ofthe ramp, in which position the carriage-roller serves to support therear end of the hinged-plate. As the carriage and carriage-roller arereturned to their advanced positions by the rotating camdisk |00, thecarriage-roller ||6 rides down the ramp H9 of the hinged-plate |3 ontothe underside thereof, to again elevate it to itssubstantially-horizontal position.

The reciprocable motion of the carriage |06 is not uniform but enjoys adwell-period in its advanced position of substantially one secondduration, which is effected by the lobe-portion of the cam-surface |05ofthe cam-disk |04, the lobe-portion having an eccentricity ofsubstantially one inch and an/angular measure of substantially 90. Thecarriage is returned to its normal position and again advanced by theantilobe portion of the'cam-sulface |05, the length of each stroke ofthe carriage being substantially one inch, and the total duration of thereturn and advance strokes being substantially three seconds` Referringto Fig. 3, mounted in the hingedplate ||8 adjacent the forward edgethereof, are a plurality of spring-mounted pusher-pins |22 of identicalconstruction each comprising a cylindrical head |23having a flange |24at its base and a downwardly-projecting shank-portion |25. A coil-spring|26 is adapted to surround the shank of each pusher-pin and to abut atits upper end against the flange |24 thereof, the lower end ofthe spring|20 being seated in the bottom of a cup-shaped thimble |21 threadedlysecured at its upper end in an aperture in the plate H0. The bottom ofeach cup-shaped thimble |21 is provided With an axial aperture toaccommodate the lower end of the shank |25. The spring-mountedpusher-pins |22 are grouped together in spaced relationshipcorresponding to the grouping ofthe rigid pusher-pins and in operationare adapted to engage the rear ends of the respective molding-pins ofthe molds, when the latter are indexed opposite the re-sizing station,to re-enter the molding-pins into the apertures of the partially-curedbuttons for re-sizing the apertures. The spring-mounted pusher-pins |22are normally out of contact with the molds but as the carriage |06 movesforwardly, the hinged-plate I8, in which the pusher-pins |22 aremounted, will be swung upwardly, as described above, so as to move thepusher-pins against the rear ends of the molding-pins of each successivemold.

Suitable control-means are provided for automatically controlling theoperation of the machine and as shown at |28, comprises acontactcam-plate secured to the outer end of the shaft 30 and adapted tobeengaged by the roller of the arm |29 of a micro-'Switch |30 which issecured to the adjacent side 2| of the frame. Acting in conjunction withthe above-.described .control-means, is a secondcontrol-device which, asshown in Figs. 3 and 5, comprises an arm' |3| secured to the transversetie-bar |09 of the carriage, substantially at the-center of the bar andprojecting forwardly therefrom, the armbeing bent-up at substantiallyright angles as at |32, at the upper end of which is a threaded aperturefor receiving an'adjustable-screw |33 provided with a lock-nut. |34. Theinner end |35 of the screw |33 is adapted to Vbe in substantiallyaxialalignment with the button |36 of a microswitch |31 secured to theend-plate 22 of the frame.

The control-means are so arranged as to automatically stop the machinein the event foreign matter or a molded article is retained in amoldcavity at the ejection-station, the inclusion of which wouldseriously damage the molds when the latter were closed and indexedthrough the molding cycle. Consequently, the control-devices of themicro-switch |30 and the micro-switch |3`| are part of a circuit soarranged that when the carriage |06 is in its normal rearward position,the micro-switch |30 is opened but the switch |37 is closed, as aconsequence of which the machine is kept in continuous operation. Whenthe carriage is moving forwardly, away from its normal position, themicro-switch |31 is open, but during this time the micro-switch |30 isadapted to be closed and hence the operation of the machine isuninterrupted. However, if on the return stroke of the carriage it isunable to arrive at its normal retracted position, due to the inclusionof foreign material in the mold-cavities,

then the micro-switch |37 will be open at the 40 time the micro-switch|30 is opened by the rotating contact-cam |28, thereby stopping theoperation of the machine.

Referring to Figs. 5, l2, 14 and 15, the carriagemeans |06 is providedat its forward end and at opposite sides thereof with ,a pair ofupstanding substantially-vertical arms |38 at the upper end of which aresuitable cam-shoes |39 respectively. Each cam-shoe |39 is provided withan inwardly-projecting lip |40 which comprises a cylindrical surface ofrevolution adapted to slidingly engage in an arcuate groove I4| in theadjacent edge of the outer mold-unit of -each mold for opening andclosing the respective molds, as hereinafter described.

Suitable means are provided at the ejectionstation of the machine (seeFig. 3) for cleaning the mold-cavities of the separated molds. Re-

ferring again to Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the moldcavity cleaning-meanscomprises a pair of airstorage tanks |42, each of which is threadedlysecured at its upper end in a threaded aperture in the bottom of amanifold-block |43 suitably fastened to the inside Wall of the adjacentside 2| of the frame, the rair-tanks being spaced 5| apart laterallysuciently to permit the vertical upstanding arms |38 of the carriage topass therebetween. Each alr-tankwl42 is supplied with air by aline-supply pipe |44 connected to each tank. The upper open end of 70each tank |42 intersects the lower end of a cylindrical-bore |45projecting upwardly substantially vertically in its respectivemanifoldblock |43 from the threaded aperture in the 12 cal-bore beingclosed. Mounted securely in each manifold-block |43 substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame and at right angles tothe longitudinal axes of its respective tank |42 and cylindrical-bore|45, is a hollow cylinder |45, the longitudinal axis of which intersectsthe longitudinal axis of its respective cylindricalbore |45, as shown inFig. 13. The wall of each cylinder |46 is provided with a plurality ofradial apertures |47 around its circumference substanl tiallyintermediate the opposite ends of the cylinder. A singleradially-extending aperture |133 is provided adjacent the rear end ofeach cylinder in its upper side. The apertures U53 of the cylindersintersect and are in axial align-- ment with counterbored apertures 249in the tops of the respective manifold-blocks 43, in which are mountedbushings |50 adapted to support the lower ends of tubes I5! opposite theapertures |43 of the cylinders. Each bushing is provided withfastening-means comprising a bracket |52 by which the bushing |50 isadapted to be secured in its counterbored aperture |40. The upper -endof each tube |50 is 25 provided with a gooseneck |53, the extremity ofwhich is adapted to lie .substantially opposite the mold-cavities whenthe molds are open.

Slidably mounted within each cylinder |45 is a sleeve-valve member |54comprising a cylinder-- 30 member having an air-chamber |55 at one endprovided with a plurality of radial apertures |55 adapted to registerwith the radial apertures lill of its respective cylinder |48 and anaperture .|57 adjacent its left-hand end, as seen in Figs. 12 and 14,adapted to register with the corresponding aperture |48 of its cylinder|45. Each sleeve-Valve |54 is provided at its righthand end with ashank-portion |58 of reduced diameter having an enlarged head |59. Asshown in Figs. l2 and 1.3, the shank-portion |58 of each sleeve-valve isadapted to engage in a U -shaped slot |60 of a bracket |0| secured toand extending laterally from the adjacentupright arm |30 of the carriage|06, the head |53 and shoulder |62 of the reduced shank SES engaging onopposite sides of the bracket ii, as a consequence of whichreciprocating movement of the carriage |06 imparts longitudinalreciprocating movement to the sleeve-valve |54 for moving the latterwith respect to the hollow-- cylinder |46, so as to bring the apertures153 of the sleeve-valve into registration with the apertures of thecylinder |40. It will be clear that when the apertures of thesleeve-valves and cylinders are in registration, air within the tanks|42 is allowed to escape therefrom into the air-chambers |55 of thesleeve-valves and from thence through the registering-apertures |51 and|48 into the tubes |5|, the latter being adapted to deliver the airstreams directly into the open molds so as to clean the cavitiesthereof. By connecting the sleeve-valves to the carriage |00 in themanner described above, the discharge of air from the tanks is adaptedto occur at the time the molds are separated by movement of thereciprocating carriage.

Referring again to Fig` 5, secured at one end by bolts or otherfastening-means to the transverse-strut 95 of the frame is asubstantiallyrectangular flexible arm |63 having a clearanceslot toprovide the necessary clearance for the cam |04. The opposite end of thearm |63 is unsupported and carries a pair of bearing-blocks |04 whichare suitably secured thereto and exbottom thereof, the upper end of eachCylindyitend upwardly substantially vertically therefrom.

Mounted between the' upper ends of the bearingblocks |64 is a roller |65(see Fig. 4), the latter being split transversely and having aspoolshaped prole to provide a pair of raised annular rims |66. Thelatter are adapted to engage the rear ends of the molding-pins of themolds as the molds are indexed ,between the mold-charging station andthe re-sizing station, so as to re-enter the molding-pins into thepartially-cured molded buttons for re-sizing the apertures thereof.

M old-carrying rotor The molding machine of this invention embodiesmold-carrying means having four molds extending radially therefrom atequally-spaced intervals around the periphery thereof. Referring toFigs. 2 and 3, the mold-carrying means comprises a sleeve |61 which issubstantially square in cross section and apertured longitudinally tomake a nice t on the hub-portion of the shaft 4S. A. longitudinal key|68 is provided for securing the sleeve to the shaft. The opposite endsof the sleeve are adapted to abut suitable end-thrust bearings |69supported on corresponding ends of the shaft 48 to prevent lateraldisplacement of the sleeve. Each of the four planar faces of the sleeveprovides a mounting-surface for one of the molds, the respectivemounting-surfaces of the'sleeve being provided with a sheet of asuitable heat-insulation material, as indicated at I 10.

The molds are indicated generally at |1| and since each of the fourmolds are identical in construction, for the sake of brevity thefollowing description will relate to one mold only. Each mold comprisestwo separable plates adapted to support the individual die-blocks whichembody the mold-cavities, these plates being hereinafter referred to asmold-units. The inner moldunit is indicated at |12 and comprises asubstantially-rectangular block of metal, the dimensions of its basebeing substantially equal to the dimensions of the corresponding face ofthe sleeve |61, to which the inner mold-unit is secured by suitablefastening-means such as, for example, by bolts |13, the heads of whichmay be countersunk in the outer face of the inner mold-unit. Extendinglongitudinally throughout the length of the sides |14 and |15respectively of the inner mold-unit are open grooves |16 substantiallyrectangular in cross'section, the longitudinal axes of which extendsubstantially diagonally from one end to the opposite end of therespective sides |14 and |15 of the inner moldunit, as shown in Figs.and 11, the slope of the diagonal open groove in the one face |14 beingopposite to the slope of the diagonal open groove in the face Eachgroove is adapted to receive a locking-member |11 adapted to lock theinner mold-unit to its respective outer moldunit, as hereinafterdescribed. Each lockingmember comprises a longitudinal bar |11 of hardmetal substantially rectangular in cross section and dimensioned to makea smooth sliding fit in its respective open groove |16, the over-alllength of each bar being somewhat greater than the width of the innermold-unit |12, so that opposite ends of the bar will extend beyond thecorresponding ends of the respective inner moldunits. Each end of eachbar is provided with a beveled cam-surface |18, the slope of the bevelat one end of the bar being in the direction of the slope at theopposite end of the bar. As shown in Fig. 3, the locking-bars |11 ofeach inner mold- 14 unit are held in their respective grooves |16 bymeans of suitable prismatic blocks |160 of triangular cross section, theright-angle faces of which are adapted to abut the complementary'grooved sides of each successive pair of inner mold-units, the prismaticblocks |160 being secured to the respective complementary sides of theinner mold-units by suitable fasteningmeans. Formed in the outer face ofeach inner mold-unit |12 is a channel |19 having the form of an annulussymmetrically located with respect to the center of the outer face ofthe inner mold-unit. This annular channel |19 is adapted to accommodateheating-means (not shown) which may be electric heating-coils or otherconventional heating-means for heating the inner mold-unit. Within theencompassment of the annular channel |19 is a relatively-shallowcircular recess adapted to support a set of four die-blocks |8|embodying the mold-cavities |82. The die-blocks aresubstantially-cylindrical members having annular flanges at their bases,the die-blocks being held in a symmetrically-arranged cluster within therecess |80 by a spider |83 adapted to engage the annular anges of thedie-blocks. The spider |83 i-s, in turn, secured in the recess |88 inthe front face of the inner mold-unit |12 by means of a rectangularretaining-plate |84, the latter being secured to the outer face of theinner mold-unit by screws or similar fastening-means (not shown). In twodiagonally-'opposite corners of each inner moldunit are smooth-boredguide-holes |135, each hole being adapted to slidably receive the lowerend of the shank of a locking-bolt |86 for securing the outer and innermold-units together in separable relationship, the bolt |86 beingadapted also to cooperate with the mold-unit locking bars |11 forlocking the mold-units together, as hereinafter described.

Referring to Fig. 7, the outer mold-unit of each mold is indicatedgenerally at |81, the outer face of which comprises a cylindricalsurface of revolution |83, the contour of which corresponds to thecontour of the arcuate surface |10 of the mold-compressing shoe 98. Theinner face of the outer mold-unit |81 is, like the outer face of theinner mold-unit |12, provided with an annular channel |89 foraccommodating suitable heating-means for heating the outer mold-unit;and a circular recess |90 within the encompassment of the annularchannel |89 and substantially concentric with respect thereto foraccommodating four dic-blocks |9| which complement the four die-blocks|8| of the inner mold-unit. Intersecting the center and bottom of therecess |99 is one end of a cylindrical aperture 52 which extends throughthe outer mold-unit |81 and intersects at its opposite end the outercylindrical surface |88 thereof, the aperture |92 being adapted toaccommodate a mold-charging bushingor chamber |93 which is suitablysecured in the aperture |92 as, for example, by a press-fit and providedwith an enlarged head |93!) which extends into the recess |90, as shownin Fig. 7. Arranged substantially symmetrically about the aperture |92are four additional cylindrical apertures |94 each of which constitutesa counterbore-portion |95 at one end intersecting the cylindricalsurface |88 of the outer mold-unit, the opposite end of each apertureintersecting the bottom of the recess |90.

Seated in the bottom of the recess is a perorated spacer-plate |96having a central aperture |91 to accommodate the'forwardly-projectingend of the charging-bushing |93; and four apertures |98 spacedsymmetrically about the central aperture |91 and in axial alignment withthe apertures |94 of the outer mold-unit. The die-blocks |9| are seatedon the perforated spacer-plate |26 and held in engagement therewith andin axial alignment with the apertures its thereof by means of a spider|95, the latter having a central aperture to receive the enlarged head|930 of the charging-bushing |93 and being, in turn, held within therecess |00 of the outer mold-unit |81 by a retaining-plate 20e securedby any suitable means to the inner face thereof. The counterboredapertures |95 are adapted to constitute bearing-apertures for guidingthe article-ejector members which are slidably mounted therein, therebeing one ejector for each die-block |9I. Each ejector-member 20|comprises a substantially-cylindrical sleeve provided at its inner endwith a hollow elongated noseportion 202 of reduced diameter hereinaftertermed the ejector-pin, the latter being joined integrally with the bodyof the sleeve by a conical shoulder 203. The outer end of eachcylindrical ejector-sleeve is reduced in diameter to provide asubstantially-annular square shoulder 204 adapted to abut against thesquare shoulder of a retaining-ring 205. The latter are seated in thebottoms of the counterbores |95 of the apertures |94 in the outermold-unit, and are held therein by locking-rings 206 which arethreadedly secured in the outer ends of the counterbores |95. Thecylindrical ejector-sleeves are thus held positively from movingoutwardly radially but are free to slide inwardly. The permissibleinward displacement of each ejector-member is positively limited bymeans of a pin 2il1 xedly secured at its opposite ends in apertures ofits respective retaining-ring 205 and adapted to engage in a transverseslot 208 of predetermined length formed in the respective sleeve-ejectormember, the length of each slot corresponding substantially to thepermissible displacement of the ejector-pin. In this connection, therear face of each die-block |9|' is provided with a countersink 209Which affords a relief-recess for the conical shoulder of thecylindrical ejectorsleeve and which is concentric with the axialaperture 2I0 of the die-block through which its respective hollowejector-pin 202 is adapted to project into the mold-cavity 2|| thereof.Slidably mounted within each ejector-sleeve 20| is a molding-memberindicated generally at 2 I2, each comprising a shank-portion 2I3 havinga sliding fit in the cylindrical bore of its respective ejectorsleeveand provided at its inner end with an integral relatively-long thin pin2M which, in turn, has a sliding t in the apertured ejector-pin 202 ofits respective ejector-sleeve. A transverse slot 2I5 of predeterminedlength is provided in the shank-portion 2| 3 of each molding-pin, eachslot being adapted to receive the respective pin 201 before referred toand which is secured in the respective retaining-rings 205. Thetransverse pins 201 thus permit limited longitudinal movement of themolding-pins 2 I2 within the ejectorsleeves 20|, the displacement ofeach pin corresponding to the length of its respective slot 2 i5. Therear end of each molding-pin 2 |2 is provided with a smooth roundedsurface adapted to be engaged sequentially by the pusher-pins 65 and |23which are adapted to project the moldingpins into their respectivemold-cavities 2| I.

Referring again to the mold-charging bushing |93. the annular rim of theenlarged end |930 -16 thereof is providedvwth four relatively-shallowgates 2|1 extending radially from the center oi the bushing, each gatebeing adapted to connect the cylindrical bore of the charging-bushingwith one of the four mold-cavities 2|| of the respective die-blocks I9I.In furtherance of -this end, the face of each die-block is provided witha corresponding shallow radial gate 2l, one end o which intersects itsrespective mold-cavity 2l i, the opposite end being adapted to be linedup with one of the gates 2I'1 of the charging-bushing. Diametricallyopposite the gate 2 I8 of each die-block is a radial groove 2|0, thelatter being adapted to form an extremely-shallow relieior vent-passageforits respective mold-cavity 2| l.

When the corresponding die-blocks of each pair of mold-units are inengagement, the gates 2li and 2I8 of the die-blocks I9| become closedpassages, as shown in Fig. 7, adapted to feed the molding material fromthe bore of the charging-- chamber |93 into the four respectivemold-cavities 2| I, any excess material or vapor pressure within themold-cavities being vented through the relief-passages 2 |9.

Referring to Figs. '1, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the inner and outer mold-unitsof each mold are adapted normally to be locked in mutually-engagingrelationship throughout a major portion oi the molding cycle by suitablelocking-means, the latter being adapted to be actuated automatically asthe molds are sequentially positioned opposite the severaloperating-stations of the machine. As pointed out above, thelocking-means of each pair of mold-units comprises a pair of slidingcars|11 mounted in the inner mold-unit and adapted to be lockinglyv engagedwith a pair of locking-bolts |86 carried by the outer mold-unit. To thisend, each bar |11 is provided adjacent one end with a nearlysemicylindrical clearancerecess 220 on the side 22| thereof whichcorresponds to that side which is adapted to engage the bottom of itsrespective groove |18 in the inner mold-unit, the longitudinal axis ofthe nearly semicylindrical recess 220 being at substantially 7 to thelongitudinal axis oi the face 22| of the bar. At the lower end of thisnearli semicylindrical recess, its wall 222 is adapted to be intersectedby a ramp 223 which is substantially one-half as wide as any one side ofthe bar |11 and is formed in the side 224 of the bar which isintersected by the lower end of the nearly semicylindrical recess 220,as shown in Fig. 8. The ramp 223 constitutes a planar camsurface havinga uniform pitch of substantially 7 and extends longitudinally of the barfrom its point of intersection with the recess 22e tc its oppositeextremity which Iblends into the face 22A of the bar.

Each locking-bolt |86 (see Fig. 9) is provided with an enlarged headadapted to be seated in a ccunterbore 226 of an aperture 221 provided inthe outer mold-unit in axial alignment with the corresponding smoothbored aperture of the inner mold-unit and secured therein by means of anexteriorly-threaded plug 225, the shank of the bolt extending throughthe axially-aligned apertures |85 and 221 and having a sliding t in thesmooth bored aperture |85. Intersecting the shank of the boltintermediate its opposite ends is a transverse slot 228 havingsubstantiallyparallel walls 229 spaced apart a distance somewhat greaterthan the width of a side of one of the bars |11 and perpendicular to thebottom of the slot, the depth of the slot being slightly less thanone-half the diameter of the bclt |86.

When a locking-bar |11 is assembled in its respective groove |16 of theinner mold-unit, its side 22|, including its semicylindrical recess 220,is adapted to cooperatively engage in the slot 228 of its respectivelocking-bolt |86. Referring to Fig. 10, when the semicylindrical recess22|) of each bar is substantially opposite the slot 228 of itsrespective locking-bolt |86, the latter is free to move through therecess 22|) of the bar Assuming both locking-bars |11 of a mold are inthis position, which may be described as the abnormal unlocked positionof the bars, then the outer mold-unit to which the locking-bolts |86 aresecured is free to move outwardly radially with respect to the innermold-unit, the outer mold-unit being guided by the smooth sliding t ofthe shanks of the locking-bolts in the smooth bored apertures |85 of theinner mold-unit. Normally, however, the locking-bars |11 are in lockingengagement with their respective bolts |86, under which circumstancesthe semicylindrical recesses 226 of the bars |11 are out of alignmentwith the locking-bolts and the corresponding sides 22| of the barsengage in the rectangular slots of the bolts. When such displacement ofthe bars |11 has been effected, the ramp 223 of each bar engages theadjacent wall 229 of the slot 228 in its respective bolt |86 in acammin'g action which positively draws the bolt inwardly radially andhence forces the outer mold-unit into tightly-locked engagement with itsinner moldunit. Moreover, this same action serves to take up any slackwhich may exist between the locked outer and inner mold-units when' thelatter are subjected to high compression pressures, as hereinafterdescribed.

As pointed out above, the locking and unlocking of each respective pairof mold-units is accomplished automatically. To this end, suitablelocking-bar actuating-members, indicated generally at 23B, are providedwhich, as shown, are secured to the inside walls of the sides 2| of theframe and are adapted to project inwardly into the path of movement ofthe opposite beveled ends |18 of the respective locking-bars as thelatter are sequentially indexed through the molding-cycle.

Referring to Fig. 11 which shows a view of one of the molds as seen fromthe vantage point of the mold-charging plunger, as each mold is indexedinto its mold-charging position, the respective locking-bars |11 of theinner mold-unit are carried into engagement with a pair of locking-baractuating-members. 23|). One of these members is located on the insidewall of one side of the frame substantially opposite the upperlocking-bar |11, the other locking-bar actuatingmember being located onthe inside wall of the opposite side 2| of the frame, substantiallyopposite the lower locking-bar. Each locking-bar actuating-member 2.3i!comprises a supportinglo'lock 23| fastened in any suitable manner to thewall of the side 2| of the frame and is provided across one corner ofits outer end with av U-shaped slot 232, the upwardly-extending sides ofwhich have inwardly-projecting spaced parallel flanges 233. Mounted inthe slot 232 is a resilient member 23.15 comprising a spring-steel leaf,one end of which is engaged in the slot beneath the inwardly-projectingflanges 233 thereof, the aforesaid end of the leaf-spring being securelyheld in thev slot by fastening-means comprising a screw 235 extendingbetween the sides of the slot and suitably arranged to draw the lattertogether', so as to pinch the end of the leaftially opposite one ofspring '231| therebetween. The `opposite end of the leaf-spring 234vprojects freely into the path 'of its respective locking-'bar |11, theleaf-springs extending in the direction vof movement of their respectivelocking-bars. Thus, as the lockingbars move into' mold-chargingposition, the beveled ends |18 of the locking-bars are engaged by theirrespective leaf-springs 231| which exert va resilient force 'thereon tomove the lockingbars transversely 'in 'their respective grooves.Consequently, 'when the 'outer mold-unit is subjected to theextremely-high compression pressure exerted thereon by thecompressing-shoe '98, the sughi: inward movement of the outer moldunitwith respect to the inner mold-unit will permit the ramps of thelocking-bars to move up 'somewhat further onto the respective walls 229of the slots in the locking-bolts and thus to automatically take up anyslack between the lockingmembers. After the high compression force hasbeen removed from 'the mold-units, the lockingbars |11 successfully holdthe outer and inner mold-units tightly compressed, but due to theinherent resiliency ofthe locking-bars there may be an appreciablereduction in the original high pressure exerted on thek respectivemold-units. However, since the mold-cavities have already been charged,this'r'eduction in compression pres;- sure may be tolerated.

After the molds have been indexed from the charging-station and astheyare moving into the ejection-station, the respective locking-bars ofeach vmold are adapted to be engaged again by suitable locking-baractuating-members. At the ejection-station there are two sets oflocking-bar actuating-members, one set corresponding to the resilientleaf-devices 230 used at the charging-station.` Associated with theresilient leaf-spring devices 23|) are a set of locking-baractuating-members, `indicated .generally at 23|; and comprising a pairyof fixed ramp-blocks, each ramp-block comprising a base-portion 231'secured to and projecting transversely from the inside wall of one side2| of the frame substanthe resilient leaf-spring devices 23 0 on theother sideof the frame, the rampblock having a ramp 238 adapted toextend into the path of movement of the locking-bars |11. Eachramp-block 236 is placed slightly lower on its respective side of theframe than its corresponding resilient leaf-spring device 230, as aconsequence of which the outwardly-projecting beveled ends |18 of thelocking-bars |11 are engaged rs-t with the ramps 238 of the fixedramp-blocks, which action positively compels each respective locking-barto move transversely in its respective groove outv of locking engagementwith its respective locking-bolt. However, whileone end of eachlocking-bar is still in engagement with its respective ramp, theopposite end of each bar has been moved into engagement with itsrespective resilient leaf-spring device 230. While the locking-bars areso held, the unlocked outer mold-unit is adapted to be moved outwardlywith respect to the inner mold-unit by means of the reciprocablecarriage |86 to open the mold and effect ejection of the molded buttons,after which the outer mold-unit is positively moved inwardly to closethe mold. Thereafter, as the indexing movement of the mold is initiated,the ends of its` locking-bars, which have been in engagement with theramps 238, are moved oi thereof, whereupon the resilient leaf-springs234 immediately move the lockingbars into locking engagement with theirrespective locking-bolts, thus locking the outer and inner mold-unitstogether before the centrifugal force created by rotation of the moldhas had an opportunity to separate the mold-units. The mold-units arethus locked together as they are sequentially indexed to thefeeding-station and charging-station.

Turning again to the action which takes place at the ejection-station,as the outer mold-unit is moved outwardly, the rear end of eachejectorsleeve 20| is adapted to engage the forward end of a stop-pin239, the forward end of which is provided with a concentric cavity 240opposite the rear end of the molding-pin of the ejectorsleeve. In thepresent embodiment, there are four stop-pins, one for eachejector-sleeve of a mold, these four stop-pins being secured at theirrear ends to the head 24| of a piston 242 which is mounted in acup-shaped air-cylinder 243 secured in an aperture of the end-plate 22of the frame. The bottom 244 of the aircylinder 243 is provided withfour guide-apertures through which the stop-pins 239 project. Theopposite end of the air-cylinder is adapted to be closed by acover-plate 245 and sealed by packing 246, suitable bolts 241 beingprovided for fastening the assembled cylinder and cover to the endplate22. .An air-supply tube 248 is connected to the cover-plate 245 and isarranged to bleed air into the cylinder in back of the piston-head 24|so as to provide an air-cushion for the stoppins 239.

It should be noted that as the rear ends of the ejector-sleeves arebrought into engagement with the stop-pins 239 by the outward movementof the outer mold-unit, the ejector-pins 202 are thrust forwardly intothe respective mold-cavities to effect ejection of the molded buttonstherefrom, the forward movement of the ejector-pins being independent ofthe molding-pins 2|4, each L of which remains in its fully-advancedposition in its respective mold-cavity. Thus, at the end of the ejectionoperation, both the ejectorpins 202 and the molding-pins 2|4 are fullyadvanced into the respective mold-cavities and remain it these positionsuntil forced rearwardly from the mold-cavities by the influx of themolding material into the cavities at the chargingstation.

Operation The operation of the machine is believed to be clear from theforegoing description but may be briefly described as follows. When amold is at the feeding station (see Fig. 3), a moldcharging compositionpreferably in the form of a preheated pill of a thermosetting orthermoplastic material is fed into the charging-bushing |93 of the mold.The mold is then indexed to the charging-station at which it is lockedby the stop-mechanism, whereupon the mold-compressing shoe 98 isadvanced by the drive-means, described above, into engagement with theouter cyclindrical face |88 of the outer mold-unit |81 to force thelatter under a pressure of substantially 40,000 pounds into engagementwith the inner mold-unit, at which time any slack between the lockedouter and inner mold-units is taken up by the locking-baractuating-members 230, as described above. While the respectivemoldunits are under this heavy compression, the moldcharging plunger 63is advanced by the reciprocating connecting-rod 53 into thechargingbushing |93 of the outer mold-unit and compresses the pilltherein. This pressure plus the heat of the preheated pill converts thepill into a substantially-fluid state in which it flows through thegates 2|1 and 2|8 of the die-blocks into the mold-cavities thereof. Asthe uidmolding composition flows into the mold-cavities, theejector-pins 202 and molding-pins 2|4 are forced outwardly from themold-cavities, the outer ends 2|3 of the molding-pins being permitted tomove into abutting engagement with the corresponding ends of thepusher-pins 05 due to the predetermined length of the slots 2|5 of themolding-pins. Similarly, the outward movement of each ej ector-pin ispositively limited by engagement of the inner end of the transverse slot208 of its sleeve with its respective pin 201.

At the end of the forward mold-charging stroke of the plunger 53,substantially the entire contents of the charging-bushing |93 have beenforced into the mold-cavities. Immediately preceding the end of thecharging stroke, the pusherpins 65, carried and actuated by thechargingplunger crosshead 58, are brought into engagement with the outerends 2 |3 of the molding-pins 2|4, so that on completion of the chargingstroke the pusher-pins 65 will have moved each molding-pin 2|4 forwardlyinto the respective moldcavities a distance corresponding to therequired depth of the aperture to be formed in the molded button.Immediately after completion of the mold-charging operation, thecharging-plunger 63 and mold-compressing shoe are retractedsubstantially simultaneously and the charged mold is indexed throughsubstantially to the rcsizing station. As the charged mold moves throughthis arc, the annular rims |56 of the spool-shaped roller |65 areadapted to ride on the cylindrical surface |88 of the outer moldunit andto engage the outer ends of the moldingpins, in the event the latterhave moved rearwardly out of the mold-cavity by the hydrostatic pressuretherein, so as to positively return the molding-pins into themold-cavity. At the resizing station, the charged mold is stopped andheld in locked position by the Geneva drivemechanism, while the rearends of the moldingpins areagain engaged and moved forwardly to projectthe molding-pins 2|4 into the apertures of the partially-cured buttons,the engagement of the molding-pins being accomplished at this time bythe resliently-rnounted pusher-pins |22 which are brought intoengagement with the outer ends of the molding-pins by movement of thecarriage |08 and the hinged plate H8, as described above. While thecharged mold is at the re-sizing station, the next succeeding mold isbeing simultaneously charged at the chargingstation. Following theaperture re-sizing operation, the charged mold is indexed to theejectionstation, at which the charged mold is adapted to be positivelyunlocked and positively opened, the positive unlocking of the chargedmold being accomplished by engagement of the locking-bars |11 with thexed ramp-blocks 236 as the mold moves into the ejection-station.Simultaneously, the arcuate grooves |4| in opposite sides of the outermold-unit move into engagement with the arcuate lips |40 of therespective cam-shoes |39 carried on the upright arms |38 of thereciprocable carriage-means |06, whereupon as the latter is advanced itpositively carries the outer mold-unit outwardly away from itsrespective inner mold-unit, thereby opening the charged mold. Followingthe opening of the charged mold, the mold-cavities are cleaned by ablast of air from the goosenecks |53 of the air-tanks arrears 142 theouter mold-unit thenv being carried back into engagement with its innermold-unit by the retreatingcarriage |06. The closed mold is then indexedto the feeding-station to receive another preheated pill, thelocking-bars ITI of the mold being. automatically actuated as theindexing movement of the mold is initiated to auto-matically lock theinner and outer mold-units together.

In accordance with the improved molding machine of this invention,molded buttons of a thermosetting plastic material may be produced ingreat rapidity and of highly uniform and superior construction. In theVembodiment shown, each mold embodies four mold-cavities and the cycle ofoperations consumes substantiallyV 16 seconds, as a consequence of whichthe machine has a high rate of production. It Will be appreciated,however, that each mold may comprise fewer or more than fourmold-cavities and that the speed of rotation of the mold-rotor may beincreased or decreased depending upon such factors asl the curing timeof the plastic material being used', the volume of the moldedA article,etc.

The invention` may be carried out in other specic ways than those hereinset forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristi'csl of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as` illustrative and notrestrictive, and

all changescoming Within the meaning and equivalency range of theappended claims are intended to be; embraced therein.

Iclaim:

1. A moldingv machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality of molding-means arranged in an annular series onthe periphery of said mold-carrying member, each molding-means having amold-cavity and a transfer-passage, the longitudinal axis of thetransfer-passagel of each molding-means extending radially of saidrotary mold-carrying member and communicating with said mold-cavity; amolding-means feeding-station and a moldingmeans charging-stationspaced' circumferentiall'y about the said rotary mold-carrying member;indexing-means arranged to automatically rotate said mold-carryingmember intermittently and inv one direction to sequentially carry saidrespectivev molding-means opposite said moldingmeansl feeding-stationfor feeding a unit-charge into the transfer-passage of eachmolding-means', and then opposite-said molding-means chargingstation;and mold-charging means at said charging-station movable toward andawayfrom said mold-carrying member in adirection sub;- stanti'ally radiallywith respect thereto and constructed and arranged to sequentiallycooperate with therespective molding-means as the same are sequentiallyturned into registry With the said mold-charging means to force the saidunitcharge out ofthe respective transfer-passage of each molding-meansand into the mold-cavity thereof.

2. A molding' machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality of molding-means arranged in an annular series onthe periphery of said mold-carrying member,` each molding-means having amold-cavity and` aV transfer-passage, the longitudinal axis of thetransfer-passage of each molding-means extend'- ing radial-1y of saidrotary mold-carrying member` and communicating with said mold-cavity;moldcharging means movable'toward and away from said mold-carrying.memberv in a direction sub-5 22-`V stantially radially withrespectthereto and constructedl and arranged to sequentially cooperate with therespective molding-means as the same are sequentially turned intoregistry With the said charging-meansy to force a charge through therespective transfer-passage of each moldingmeans and. into themold-cavity thereof; indexing-means constructed and arranged to impartstep-by-step rotary movement to said mold- 'carrying member tosequentially present. the re.-

spective transfer-passage of each of the plurality of molding-means tothe action of said chargingmeans; a molding-pin mounted in each of saidmolding-means; and an element actuated by said mold-charging meansconstructed and arranged to, thrust .a molding-pin into the mold-cavityof each respective molding-means after the mold-- cavity thereof hasbeen charged by said moldcharging means.

3. A molding machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality of pairs of mold-units arranged in an annular serieson the periphery of said mold-carrying member, each of the said pairs ofmold-units together providing a mold-cavity, and one moldunit of eachpair being movable toward and away from its complemental mold-unit in adirection substantially radially with respect to the saidrotarymold-carrying member, one of the mold-units of each of said pairsbeing provided also With a transfer-passage extending radially of saidrotary mold-carrying member and communicating with the said mold-cavity;mold-charging means movable toward and away from said mold-carryingmember in a direction substantially radially with respect thereto andconstructed and arranged to sequentially cooperate with thetransfer-passage of each of the plurality of pairs of mold-units as thesame are sequentially turned into registry' with the said charging-meansto force a charge through the respective transfer-passage of each of theplurality of pairs of mold-units into the mold-cavity thereof; andindexing-means constructed and arranged to impart step-by-step rotarymovement tothe said mold-carrying member to sequentially present therespective transfer-passage of each of the said plurality of pairs of'mold-units to the action of the said moldcharging means.

4'. A molding machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality ofv pairs of mold-units arranged in an annularseries 0n the periphery of said mold-carrying member, each of the saidpairs of mold-units together providing a mold-cavity, and one molduni'tof each pair being movable toward and away from i-ts complementalmold-unit in a direction substantiallyl radially with respect to thesaid rotary-mold-carrying member, one of the mold-units ofl each of saidpairs being provided also with a transfer-passage extending radially ofsaid rotary mold-carrying member andl communicating with the-saidmold-cavity; mold-charging means movable toward andaWay from saidmold-carrying member in a direction substantially radially withv respectthereto and constructed and arranged to sequentially cooperate with thetransfer-passage of each of' the plurality of pairs of mold-units as'thesame are sequentially turned into registry with the said charging-meansto force a charge through the respective transfer-passage of each of theplurality of pairs of mold-units into the mold-cavity thereof;indexing-means constructed and arranged to impart step-by-step rotarymovement to the said mold-carrying member to sequentially present therespective transfer passage of each of the said plurality of pairs ofmold-units to the action of the said chargingmeans; a molding-pinmounted in one mold-unit of each pair of mold-units and an elementactuated by said mold-charging means constructed and arranged to thrusta molding-pin into the mold-cavity of each` respective pair ofmold-units after the mold-cavity thereof has been charged by saidmold-charging means.

5. A molding machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality of molding-means arranged in an annular series onthe periphery of said mold-carrying member, each molding-means having amoldcavity and a transfer-passage, the longitudinal axis oi thetransfer-passage of each moldingmeans extending radially of said rotarymoldcarrying member and communicating with said mold-cavity;mold-charging means movable to- Ward and away from said mold-carryingmember in a direction substantially radially with respect thereto andconstructed and arranged to sequentially cooperate with the respectivemolding-means as the same are sequentially turned into registry with thesaid mold-charging means to force a charge through the respectivetransferpassage of each molding-means and into the mold-cavity thereof;a molding-pin mounted in each of said molding-means for rotationtherewith; thrust-means independent of said moldingpin and arrangedradially of said mold-carrying member so as to be aligned axially Withthe molding-pin of one of said molding-means when one of saidmolding-means is opposite said moldcharging means; and means to actuatesaid thrust-means so as to engage and thrust the respective molding-pininto the charged moldcavity of the said molding-means; and indexingmeansconstructed and arranged to impart stepby-step rotary movement to saidmold-carrying member to sequentially present the respectivetransfer-passage of each of the plurality of molding-means to the actionof said mold-charging means and the molding-pin of each chargedmolding-means to the action of said thrustmeans.

6. A molding machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality of molding-means arranged in an annular series onthe periphery of said mold-carrying member, each molding-means having amoldcavity and a transfer-passage, the longitudinal axis of thetransfer-passage of each moldingmeans extending radially of said rotarymoldcarrying member and communicating with said mold-cavity;mold-charging means movable toward and away from said mold-carryingmember in a direction substantially radially with respect thereto andconstructed and arranged to sequentially cooperate with the respectivemolding-means as the same are sequentially turned into registry with thesaid mold-charging means to force a charge through the respectivetransferpassage of each molding-means and into the mold-cavity thereof;a molding-means compressing-member cooperatively associated with saidmold-charging means and movable toward and away from said mold-carryingmember in a direction substantially radially with respect thereto tosequentially cooperate with each of the plurality of molding-means asthe same are sequentially turned into registry with the mold-chargingmeans to tightly compress the molding-means; indexing-means constructedand arranged to impart step-by-step rotary movement to said moldcarryingmember to sequentially present the respective transfer-passage of eachof the plurality of molding-means to the action of said moldchargingmeans and said molding-means compressing-member; a molding-pin mountedin each of said molding-means; and an element supported by saidmolding-means compressing-member and actuated by said mold-chargingmeans to thrust a molding-pin into the mold-cavity of each respectivemolding-means after the moldcavity thereof has been charged by saidmoldcharging means.

7. A molding machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality of pairs of mold-units arranged in an annular serieson the periphery of said mold-carrying member, each of the said pairs ofmold-units together providing a mold-cavity, and one moldunit of eachpair being movable toward and away from its complemental mold-unit in adirection substantially radially with respect to the said rotarymold-carrying member, one of the moldunits of each of said pairs beingprovided also With a transfer-passage extending radially of said rotarymold-carrying member and communicating with the said mold-cavity;mold-charging means movable toward and away from said moldcarryingmember in a direction substantially radially with respect thereto andconstructed and arranged to sequentially cooperate with thetransfer-passage of each of the plurality of pairs of mold-units as thesame are sequentially turned into registry with the said mold-chargingmeans to force a charge through the respective transfer-passage of eachof the plurality of pairs of mold-units into the mold-cavity thereof; amoldunit compressing-member cooperatively associated with saidmold-charging means and movable toward and away from said mold-carryingmember in a direction substantially radially with respect thereto, tosequentially cooperate with one of the mold-units of each of said pairsof mold-units as the same are sequentially turned into registry with themold-charging means to move the one mold-unit toward and into tightlycompressed engagement with its corresponding mold-unit; andindexing-means constructed and arranged to impart step-by-step rotarymovement to the said mold-carrying member to sequentially present therespective transfer-passage of each of the said plurality of pairs ofmold-units to the action of said charging-means and said moldunitcompressing-member.

8. A molding machine, including in combination: a rotary mold-carryingmember; a plurality of pairs of mold-units arranged in an annular serieson the periphery of said mold-carrying member, each of the said pairs ofmold-units together providing a mold-cavity, and one moldunit of eachpair being movable toward and away from its complemental mold-unit in adirection substantially radially With respect to the said rotarymold-carrying member, one of the moldunits of each of said pairs beingprovided also with a transfer-passage extending radially of said rotarymold-carrying member and communicating with the said mold-cavity;mold-charging means movable toward and away from said moldcarryingmember in a direction substantially radially -With respect thereto andconstructed and arranged to sequentially cooperate with thetransfer-passage of each of the plurality of pairs of mold-units as thesame are sequentially turned into registry with the said mold-charging Vmeans to force -a charge through 4the respective ltransfer-passage ofAeach ofthe plurality yoi. pairs Aci mold-units into the mold-cavitythereof; -fa mold-unit compressing-member `cooperatively associated withsaid mold-charging means and 1movable toward Vand away from saidmold-carry- Ving -member -in a direction substantially vradially withrespect thereto, `to sequentially cooperate with one :of Ithe mold-unitsof each 'of said -pairs of mold-units as the same are sequentiallyturned into registry -with the mold-unit compressing-member atopositively move the one mold-unit 4toward yand into ftightly compressedengagement with its vcorresponding mold-unit; indexing-means constructedand-arranged-to im- "part -step-'by-step rotary movement :to the sai=d'mold-carrying member to sequentially present the respectivetransfer-passage of each ofthe said plurality of pairs of mold-units tothe action of -said `vcharging-means and said mold-unitcompressing-member; -a molding-,pin mounted -in lone Ymold-unit ofi-eachpair of mold-units; .and

Aan -element supported v'by said m-old-unit com- :pressing-memberandactuated by said mold-unit charging-means to thrusts lmolding-pin-intothe mold-cavityoffeach-respective pair of mold-units after the:mold-cavit-yuthereof has been charged by said mold-charging means.

i9. `A molding machine, including rin combina- `tion: .a :rotary =-mo1dcarrying member; a -plural- -ity of radially-separable -moldingmeansarranged Ain an annular-series onthe periphery of said ymold-carryingmember, each radially-separable ;molding-means -having a mold-cavity`and a transfer-passage, 'the longitudinal axis of the 'transfer-passageof each lradial]y-separable molding-meansextendingradially of saidrotary mold-carrying :member --and `communicating *with saidmold-cavity; -a molding-means feeding-station, a `molding-meansAcharging-station, land an Aejection-station spaced circumferentiallyVabout `said .rotary [mold-.carrying member; indexingmeans arranged toautomatically `rotate said .mold-carrying member intermittently and inone direction to sequentially carry said `respective radially-separablemolding-means opposite said molding-means feeding-station for feeding -aunit-chargefintofthet -ransfer-passage of 'each Imolding-means, fandthen opposite said molding- @means :.-charging-station and said'ejection-stazition; mold-charging-meansat said charging-sta- Ytionmovable toward -and -away Vfrom vsaid moldcarrying member in v=adirection substantially ra- -dially with .respect thereto .andconstructed and arranged tosequentially cooperate with --the ref;

.spective .radially-separable-molding-means*as the `saine'issequentially turned into registry'with' the -said mold-charging meansto-force the said unit- Icharge out of the -transferpassage of eachrespective radially-separable \moldingmeans and intofthe'mold-cavityfthereof; andmolding-means locking-members `comprising fixedelements and movableelements carried by 'said rotary'moldcarryingimember, said movable elementsibeing constructed and arranged -tocooperate sequen- :tially with .said xed elementstohold saidradially-separable molding-means locked together as said 'molding-means.is moved intermittently from said ,charging-@station to saidejection-sta- 'tion vpandto unlockf said -radially-sep arableA-molding-means Yatsaidejection-station.

-l,0. Afmoldingimachine, :including in combina- `ition: a rotarymold-carrying member; a y-plu- :rality ofpairs-foffmold-.units:arranged-in an annu1a'r,-.series .non :theiperiphery of said mold-car- `rying mem-ber, each of the said Apairs ofmold- Lunits together providing a-mold-cavity, and one mold-unit fofeach-pair `being movable toward and away from-its complemental-mold-unit`inea direction substantially 4radially with -respect to the said rotarymold-carrying member, one of the mold-units of each of said pairs beingprovided also with a'transfer-passage extending radially vof said rotarymold-carrying member and communicating -with the ysaid mold-cavity;moldcharging -means movable Vtoward and away yfrom said mold-carryingmember in a direction substantially radially with respect thereto 4'andconstructed land arranged -to sequentially cooperate with-thetransfer-passage yof each lof the pluralityiof pairs of mold-unitsas-the same are sequentially fturned into -registry with the saidmoldcharging means -to lforce -a charge through the transfer-passage ofe-ach of the plurality of Pairs .of mold-units into ythe vmold-cavitythereof: mold-unitlocking-members comprising fixed -eley'men-ts andmovable elements, said-movable elements being carried fby one mold-unitof each pair of -mold-uni-ts-*and constructed and arranged tto-cooperatesequentiallyfwith said rlxed elements Ato lock and'unlock'said pairsvofmold-units; V and indexing-*neans constructed and arranged to impart-step-by-step rotary 'movement to Vthe said mold-carrying member tosequentially -present v'the respective transfer-passage Nof each of thesaid plurality of pairsr ofmold-units'to ithe action l,of the -saidmold-chargingmeans.

1-'1. `A molding machine, includingfin com-binaltion: -a rotarymold-carrying member; a plural- 1ity of lradiall. y-separablemolding-means ar- -ranged in l`an annular serieson'the periphery ofYsaid mold-carrying member, each radially-seplarable molding-means`having /aI-mold-cavity and atransfer-passage, Vthe longitudinal axisofthe v:transier-passage of each radially-separable -fmolding-meansextending'radially of said rotary v-mold-earrying -member-andcommunicating with said -mold-cavity; a Amolding-means feeding stationfamolding-means charging-station, and fan |.ejection-station `spacedcircumferentially about said rotary mold-carrying member; indexingmeansvarranged r`-to vautomatically .rota-te said -moldcarrying vmemberintermittently'and in one direction to sequentially carry saidrespective radially-.separable molding-means opposite said -moldingmeansfeeding-station for feeding :a .unit-charge Vinto 'the transfer-passageof each :molding-means, and --then opposite said moldingmeanscharging-station vand said lejection-sta- =tion;-mold-charging means atsaid charging-startionfmovableil toward and away from said moldcarrying--member =in a direction v substantially ral.diallywith-respecttheretoand constructed arrd arranged to sequentially -cooperatewiththererspectivefradially-separable-molding-means asthe Isamerarevsequentially'turned into registry with the said mold-charging --meansto yforce Ithe said unit-charge out ofzthe respective transfer-pas-:sagefofeach searable molding-meansand into ..65 :the i mold-cavitythereof; a molding-means comy'75 pressure fduringthe displacement of theunit- V-V` pressing-member cooperatively associated with the ,saidmold-charging means and i movable toward .and away from saidlmold-carrying member `in :adirectionsubstantially radially with respecttheret-oto-cooperate with each of the pluralityof radially-separablemolding-means as the same "are sequentially turned into registry withthe :mold-charging -means-to subject said radially- 1 separablemolding-means g to a high-compression

